KR101534631B1 - Airplane ground support equipment cart having discrete generator, power conversion and air conditioning modules - Google Patents

Abstract

The ground support equipment cart 10 includes one or more removable equipment modules. The cart includes a rectangular module (400) having airplane air conditioning components mounted on the cart and extending across the width of the cart and occupying substantially less than half the length of the cart. The cart also includes one or more rectangular equipment modules (20, 22) removably mounted on the cart, wherein one or two of the removable modules comprise a power conversion part. And the cart includes a rectangular module 14 having a power generating component mounted on the cart and occupying substantially the remainder of the cart. The cart may preferably be split into two parts and one part 1004 includes a module having a power generating part. The cart may also include a control module that is networked to another module and includes a display 24 and a control for the other module. One or more of the removable modules 20 may be slid on the tray and secured in place.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to an airplane ground support equipment cart having a separate generator module, a power conversion module, and an air conditioning module.

The present application is related to U.S. Patent Application No. 60 / 984,005 (Attorney Docket No. 21586-P1) filed on October 31, 2007, U.S. Patent Application No. 60 / 984,006, filed on October 31, 2007 (Attorney Docket No. 21587-P1), filed on October 31, 2007, and Attorney Docket No. 61 / 036,749, filed March 14, 2008, Control Number 50-006 ITW 21586-P2).

Cross reference of related application

This patent application is one of a series of jointly filed applications filed on the same day as the present application, in which some inventors common to aircraft ground support equipment and carts. One of these series of applications, listed here as "A Multi-Voltage Power Supply for a Universal Airplane Ground Support Equipment Cart" (James W. Mann, III and David Wayne Leadingham) , Attorney Docket No. 50-002 ITW 21608U); "An Adjustable Cooling System for Airplane Electronics" (by Jeffrey E. Montminy and Steven E. Bivens) (Serial Number , Attorney Docket No. 50-003 ITW 21585U); "A Frame and Panel System for Constructing Modules to be Installed on an Airplane Ground Support Equipment Cart" (Jeffrey E. Montminy, Brian A. Teeters, and Kyta Insixiengmay) (Serial Number , Attorney Docket No. 50-004 ITW 21588U); "A System of Fasteners for Attaching Panels to Modules to Installed an Airplane Ground Support Equipment Cart" (Jeffrey E. Montminy, Brian A. Teeters, and Kyta Insixiengmay) (Serial Number , Attorney Docket No. 50-005 ITW 21587U); "An Adjustable Air Conditioning Control System for a Universal Airplane Ground Support Equipment Cart" (by James W. Mann, III, Jeffrey E. Montminy, Benjamin E. Newell, and Ty A. Newell) , Attorney Docket No. 50-007 ITW 21606U); "A Compact, Modularized Air Conditioning System that Can Be Mounted Upon an Airplane Ground Support Equipment Cart" (Jeffrey E. Montminy, Kyta Insixiengmay, James W. Mann, III, Benjamin E. Newell, and Ty A. Newell) Number , Attorney Docket No. 50-008 ITW 21583U); And "Maintenance and Control System for Ground Support Equipment" (James W. Mann, III, Jeffrey E. Montminy, Steven E. Bivens, and David Wayne Leadingham) , Attorney Docket No. 50-009 ITW 21605U) is incorporated into the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to aircraft ground support equipment, and more particularly to an aircraft ground support equipment having a removable module.

When an airplane is on the ground with the engine stopped, the airplane generally can not provide power to the electrical system and can not provide cooling air to the air conditioning system; Also, some planes can not provide liquid coolant to some important electronic (or "avionics") components. It is therefore common for airplanes landing on the ground to be connected to an airplane ground support system. Such a system may have components mounted on a mobile equipment cart, called an airplane ground support equipment cart, that can be conveniently located, positioned, or mounted on an aircraft that requires ground support. Such a cart typically includes an air conditioner capable of providing air-cooled and cooled air to an airplane, and power from the local power network to the appropriate voltage (AC or DC) and frequency of the airplane And a power converter capable of converting the power. Such an airplane ground support equipment cart may also include a diesel engine connected to an electrical generator that allows the cart to provide air conditioning and power to the airplane without connecting to a local power grid. And some carts may include a source of liquid coolant if an airplane needs a source of cooling liquid for the electronic component.

In the past, especially in military aircraft, such ground support equipment carts have been custom designed to meet the specialized needs of one particular type or class of airplane. Thus, carts designed to support specific requirements and requirements of aircraft of type 1 or class could not be used to support other specific requirements and requirements of other types or classes of aircraft. In general, other planes may require cooling air at different pressures and volumes, different amounts of power, different electrical voltage levels, and other electrical frequencies (or dc currents). And other planes may require different amounts of pressure and volume of the cooling liquid that is typically used to cool the mounted electronic components. Thus, all airports must have as many different types of ground support carts as there are other types or classes of airplanes that can land or take off at each airfield or military base. However, problems arise when more specific types of airplanes arrive at a particular location than there are ground support equipment carts that are properly designed to meet the needs of a particular type or grade of airplane.

As an example of an airplane cart device that provides air conditioning and electrical conditioning in an airplane, PCT Patent Application No. PCT / US2006 / 043312 (International Publication No. WO 2007/061622 A1, published May 31, 2007) Disclosed is an airplane ground support cart having a modular design of components. The cart provides air conditioning and power conditioning as well as providing an optional power generation service to the airplane. Figure 5 shows that the cart disclosed in this patent application can accommodate an exchangeable and modular power conversion module. Thus, three-phase 115 volts 400 Hz A.C. The module 72 for generating power can be removed and replaced with a 270 volt D.C. May be replaced by a module 78 that generates power. Figure 6 shows that the cart is 28 volts D.C. Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > 92 < / RTI >

2 of the above PCT patent application shows a general arrangement of the mechanical components of the dual air conditioning system in the air ground support equipment cart 14. [ The machine parts of the air conditioner all extend over the entire length of the cart 14. Two sets of condenser coils 34 are located at one end of the cart 14; The thickness of the coil 34 and its housing and the associated cooling fan take up about one-fifth of the total length of the cart. The filter and upstream evaporation coil 30 and the downstream evaporation coil 40 and the outlet connection 42 (which may be fitted with a duct into the airplane) may be located at the other end of the cart 14, Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > 1/5 < / RTI > The blower fan 32, the discharge space 38 and the two compressors 36 are shown positioned in the center portion of the cart 14. [ These mechanical components of the air conditioning system are not limited to rectangular modules within a portion of the volume of the cart 14 and these components extend throughout the cart 14, It can not be conveniently removed from the cart for use in places. Other cart parts, such as diesel engine 54 and generator 56 (shown in Fig. 4 of the above PCT application) and power converter unit 72 (shown in Fig. 5 of the above PCT application) Wherever there is, it fits anywhere. The intermixing of air-conditioning parts and non-air-conditioning parts greatly complicates servicing all the parts because these parts are entangled in the same narrow space. Service personnel working in the air conditioner compressor or blower may find, for example, that the diesel engine 54 and the generator 56 are present on their way to these parts and are interfering.

The present invention aims at implementing large modules and small modules of similar design that can be mounted on such carts and exchanged with each other and removed for convenient service. Larger modules may be equipped with air conditioning equipment or power generating equipment, while smaller modules may be equipped with three-phase 460 volts 60 Hz A.C. input power at 270 volts DC or 115 volts 400 Hz A.C. Power conversion equipment such as a unit capable of converting power into electricity. Other modules may include a control panel, a display, a computer and other such equipment.

These modules must be strong enough to be lifted without damage and moved around. These modules should be relatively easy to disassemble to perform repairs without great difficulty, but should not be able to suck into the jet turbine engine causing parts to loosen and cause severe damage. The module design should be capable of easily providing electromagnetic shielding when needed. These modules should be relatively waterproof and weatherproof, but the internal acceptance channels that can cause serious damage when moisture accumulates must be minimized. The design of these modules should be able to easily scale up or down to larger or smaller modules as required by the characteristics of the supported ground support equipment.

The present invention is embodied in a ground support equipment cart having one or more removable equipment modules. The cart includes a rectangular module having an air conditioning component mounted on the cart and extending across the width of the cart but occupying substantially less than half the length of the cart. The cart also includes one or more rectangular equipment modules removably mounted on the cart, wherein one or two of the removable modules have power conversion parts. And the cart includes a rectangular module having a power generating component mounted on the cart and occupying a substantially remaining portion of the cart. In one embodiment, the cart includes a module separated into two parts, one of which includes a power generating part. In another embodiment, the cart also includes a control module that is networked to another module and that includes a display and control for the other module. In yet another embodiment, one or more of the removable modules can be slid on the tray and fixed at a specific location.

More specifically, a ground support equipment cart having the at least one removable equipment module comprises: a ground support equipment cart; A rectangular module having an airplane air conditioning component mounted on the cart and extending across the width of the cart but occupying less than half the length of the cart; One or more rectangular equipment modules removably mounted on the cart, wherein the at least one removable module comprises a power conversion component; And a rectangular module having power generating components mounted on the cart and occupying a substantially remaining portion of the cart.

Here, the ground support equipment cart occupies a footprint of only one pallet position on the air cargo plane.

Also, at least one of the removable modules is slidable to be fully slidable away from the cart for service and maintenance.

Advantageously, the ground support equipment cart further comprises a securing mechanism for securing at least one removable, slidably mounted module to a specific location.

The ground support equipment cart further includes a rail tray system for receiving the weight of at least one removable and slidably mounted module, wherein the rail tray system secures the removable modules to the cart.

Further, the ground support equipment cart further includes a securing mechanism for securing at least one removable and slidably mounted module to the rail tray system in a specific location.

Wherein the removable modules are capable of receiving an input power cable of the same type that the ground support kit can accommodate when used separately from the cart.

In addition, the removable modules are mounted adjacent to a module comprising an air conditioning component.

Further, the ground support equipment cart further comprises a control system rectangular module, connected to at least two of the other modules by a power and signal networking connection, and having a display and a control for the at least two modules of the other modules .

Advantageously, said control system module is connected to at least one module that provides a display and control unit and is connected to a module comprising an air conditioning component and which has a power conversion component when the module is not removed.

The control system module also provides a display and control unit and is connected to a module having a power generating component by a power and signal networking connection when the module is not removed.

Further, the cart includes a first portion of the cart supporting one or more modules and a second portion of the cart supporting one or more modules, the first portion being separable from the rest of the cart .

Advantageously, said first portion supports a module comprising a power generating component.

The second part also comprises a rectangular part with an air-conditioning part as well as another removable module.

Further, the ground support equipment cart may include a mechanism for separating the first and second portions of the cart, and the separating mechanism may be configured such that when the first portion and the second portion are not separated, Bending resistance.

The present invention is advantageous in that one or more modules are detachably and slidably mounted on the cart to provide an effect of easily replacing the modules according to the type and grade of the airplane, as well as the effect that a particular module can be removed from the cart for repair In addition to the convenience of the service person to access specific modules for the particular module and its internal electrical and electronic components, it is also possible to use a specific module as a separate module elsewhere or to service this particular module on another It can be removed from the cart to provide effects such as being able to use it for independent modules or different airplane types or grades.

1 is a schematic perspective view of an airplane ground support equipment cart having a power conversion module that can be removed from the cart and a power generation module that can slide out of the cart for servicing or removal.
Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the cart shown in Figure 1 with the power generation module separated from other elements of the cart;
Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the power conversion module shown in Figures 1 and 2 showing that the power conversion module is mounted on a track so that it can be slid away from the cart for maintenance or removal.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of several modules illustrating that the module side panels are removed and positioned close together when the modules are mounted on a ground support equipment cart (interior detail visible);
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the modules shown in Figure 4 showing that the power conversion module is slid forward and the power generation module is moved laterally to show that the modules can be separated;
FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the modules shown in FIG. 4, shown in detail at an actual scale, with the power conversion module slid forward; FIG.
7 is a perspective view showing the power conversion module lying on its rail / tray support system;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the power conversion module shown in FIG. 7 and the front right lower corner of its rail / tray support system.
9 is an enlarged perspective view of the front left lower-side corner of the power conversion module and its rail / tray support system, showing a fastener that attaches the power conversion module shown in FIG. 7 to its rail / tray support tray;
10 is a rear right-hand side schematic perspective view of a power conversion module and its rail / tray support system, showing a rear electrical signal connector;
11 is an enlarged schematic perspective view of the rear power and signal connector of the power conversion module, showing the fingers engaging the matching socket to align the electrical connectors when the power conversion module is mounted in the cart.
Figure 12 is an enlarged perspective view of a stop rail mounted on a cart for slidably supporting interlocking, overlapping rails supporting a tray supporting the power conversion module.
Figure 13 shows the support wheels and trucks of the equipment cart, their support jack stands (in the horizontal seating position) and the rear part of the cart supporting the air conditioning module, power conversion module and control module, Fig. 3 is a front view of an equipment cart showing in more detail what is attached to the front portion of the cart supporting it; Fig.
Figure 14 is a rear portion of the cart in Figure 13 shown as being separated from the front portion and having a support jack stand extending downwardly to support and stabilize the rear portion when the rear portion is standing alone, Front view of.
Figure 15 is a front portion of the cart shown in Figure 13 shown separated from the rear portion and having a front portion with a support jack stand extending downward to support and stabilize the front portion when the front portion is standing alone, Front view of.
Figure 16 is a front view of the support jack stand and one of the support jack stands showing all the parts of the mounting block and the view of the disassembly of the mounting block at an angle.
Figure 17 is an oblique front view of a support jack stand and its support block with one of the support jack stands being rotated to a vertical load support position.
Fig. 18 is an oblique front view of the support jack stand and its support block shown in Fig. 17 in which the support jack stand is rotated to a horizontal seating position; Fig.
Figure 19 shows two horizontal trucks of the cart for connecting the left and right front wheel trucks and pull bars to each other in a parallelepipedal manner to adjust the front wheels of the four- (The rest of the cart is removed).
20 shows a signaling bus for interconnecting a power generation module, two power conversion modules and an air conditioning module to a control module, and further comprising a signal menu display and associated signal lamp and control push button, gram.
21 is a block diagram illustrating one possible arrangement of navigation paths existing between menus and submenus that can be displayed on the face of the display of the control module and between these menus and submenus;
Figure 22 shows a main menu that is normally displayed on the display of the control module with a signal lamp and push button control surrounding the display to enable specification of the type or rating of the airplane to be serviced.
Fig. 23 is a diagram showing a menu for a specific airplane when a specific airplane is selected on the main menu shown in Fig. 22; Fig.

A. Modular and universal airplane ground support equipment cart

Airplane ground support equipment carts include air carts, avionics equipment, liquid cooling, and powertransition and power generation services, with or without wheels that provide the engine to a stationary plane, or carts or fixedly mounted (permanently or temporarily) ) Device. These carts should preferably be transported by airplanes and other airplanes to airfields and military bases across the globe, so it is convenient and advantageous not to be larger than standard military equipment transport pallets. However, many such carts do not fit into one standard pallet today, which reduces the number of ground support equipment available in the field. Traditionally, these ground support equipment carts are custom designed so that these carts provide such services to only one type or class of airplane. Thus, different carts had to be provided for different types of airplanes. Traditionally, such cart-mounted air conditioning components are so bulky that they take up the entire area of the cart, so it is necessary to insert power conversion components and other components wherever there is room, Which makes it extremely difficult to service or replace such a cart-mounted component.

The present invention is implemented in a general-purpose, general-purpose airplane ground support equipment cart in that it is designed to serve different needs of different types and grades of airplanes, rather than just one type or grade. This ground support kit is also a modular, rectangular module whose components can be easily removed or removed from the cart for service or replacement. This module can also be used independently of the cart, and modules not needed for a particular type of airplane can be easily removed and used upright in isolation from other locations with great flexibility. Such cart 10 and some of its modules, i.e., power generation module 14, power conversion module 20 and dual air conditioning module 400 (which also provide PAO liquid cooling) Respectively. (A much more detailed view of these components is included in the present application and the related application described above.)

In use, the cart 10 is mounted near an airplane (not shown) by a suitable tractor or truck (not shown) or is pulled up by an airplane. The operator connects the air conditioning space or the air duct 26 from the dual air conditioning module 400 to a cooling air input port (not shown) on the airplane. And if the airplane includes avionics or other electronic components that require the supply of liquid coolant, the operator may select a pair of PAO liquid coolant conduits 28 from the air conditioning module 400 to a pair of PAO ports on the airplane, . The operator then connects the power output port or socket (not shown in Figures 1-3) on the power conversion module 20 to the matching port or cable on the plane using an appropriate electrical power cable (not shown) . There may be as many carts 10 as there are two power conversion modules 20 to meet the different needs of different types of airplanes where the first module 20 is a 115 volt 400 Hz AC power output port and another The second module 1308 (Figure 20) has a 28 volt DC power output port (one or the other of these modules 20 or 1308 has a 270 volt DC power output port from the cart 10) Can be removed.

20, the operator presses the "start" pushbutton 1316 on the front panel of the control module 22 with the display screen 24, And displays the same main menu. If the airplane is a T-50 golden eagle, the operator presses one of the four push buttons 1304 adjacent to the label "T-50 Golden Eagle" in this menu (Fig. 22) One of the four push buttons 1302 adjacent to the "start" label in the menu (Fig. 23). In response, all modules automatically servicing air conditioning of the appropriate air pressure and air volume to this particular type of airplane and providing reconfiguration (as needed) to provide the appropriate type, voltage and frequency power and, if necessary, do. If the operator selects the wrong type of airplane, the pressure and air flow measurements will detect this and stop the system and illuminate the colored lights 1314 to indicate an error signal and display an appropriate error message on the control panel 24, Lt; / RTI > The system stops when the operator presses the "start" push button 1318 on the front of the control 22 or pushes the push button 1302 or 1304 adjacent to the "start" label on one of the display screen 24 menus .

The universal airplane ground support equipment cart is designed to provide flexible support to the needs of many different types and grades of airplanes with widely varying air conditioning and liquid cooling and power support needs. The present invention can provide cooling air and cooling liquids of different pressures and different volumes to different planes and provide different types and amounts of power to different planes. The present invention also provides a simplified integrated control panel that allows the aircraft service personnel to simply select the type of airplane they are servicing and allows multiple devices on the cart to be automatically configured to optimize support for this particular type of airplane .

Modular airplane ground support equipment carts are each limited to a rectangular module in which the various support systems provided by the cart are robust, compact and optionally electromagnetic shielded (EMI), each of which can be easily removed, serviced and replaced It is a cart that can be used independently of the cart and other module parts.

For example, the two-stage air conditioning module 400 in the cart 10 includes all of the air conditioning components of the cart 10, including a liquid PAO cooling system. The power converter module 20 includes a power conversion component of the cart 10 having a 270 volt DC supply and a 115 volt 400 Hz AC supply; The module 20 may also be replaced or supplemented with another module 1318 that has a 28 volt DC supply and provides up to three different types of power conversion depending on the specialized needs of different types and classes of planes.

The power supply module 14 is connected to the power supply module 14 at a maximum of 360 to 500 volts, 50 cycles, or 60 cycles of A.C. It has a diesel engine and generator that generates 60 cycles, 3 phases, 460 volts power when it can not be conveniently connected to a three-phase supply. The power supply module 14 is limited to one end of the cart 10 and can be detached from the cart 10 as shown in Fig.

Any one or all of these modules 14, 20, 400 and 1308 may include an internal converter (not shown) for down converting the incoming high voltage power to 120 volts or 240 volts at 50 Hz or 60 Hz and supplying the low voltage to a standard weatherproof outlet The standard weatherproof outlet can be used to provide power to hand tools and portable lighting equipment, and these devices are provided with ground fault protection.

As shown in Fig. 20, the control module 22 is mounted on the cart 10 on the power converter module 20. The control module 22 includes a pair of start and stop push buttons 1316 and 1318 on its front panel and color status lights 1314 and a display screen 24, And a set of four push buttons 1302 and 1304 adjacent to the right side. Upon turn-on, the display screen 24 provides the main menu display shown in FIG. 22, which allows the aircraft maintenance person to select one of the adjacent push buttons 1302, 1304 to select the type or rating of the airplane to be serviced I will. In response, a menu specific to the type or class of the airplane appears (Figure 23). The maintenance menu and its associated submenus (FIG. 21) allow service personnel to view the status of the air conditioning and PAO module 400, power converter modules 20 and 1308, and power supply module 14 In some cases) to change this state.

20, all modules 14, 20, 22, 400, and 1308 are interconnected by a network 1312 when they are mounted in cart 10. Further, each module 14, 20, 22, 400, 1308 has a network jack (not shown) that can be connected to an external portable computer (not shown) At this time, clicking with the mouse on the menu shown in Figs. 21 to 23 replaces pushing the push buttons 1302 and 1304.

The rear portion 1002 of the cart 10 is optionally mounted to the two-wheel and axle truck assembly 18 and the front portion 1004 of the cart 10 includes two independently adjustable wheel and truck assemblies 19 , 21). In the space of the cart 10 between the power generation module 14 and the two-stage air conditioning module 400, one or both of the power converter modules 20 and 1308 are connected to the track 10 (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) 504, 512) and may thereby be attached to the cart 10. Both of the modules 20 and 1308 may be mounted on opposite sides of the cart 10 as shown, wherein the control module 22 and the display 24 are connected to two modules 20 or 1308 It is mounted directly on either one.

The cart 10 is designed to occupy only one "pallet" position in the air cargo plane when fully configured with several modules as shown in FIG. The pallet location is described in the MIL-STD-1366D Interface Standard for Transporting Criteria , Paragraph 5.4.4.2-463L Cargo Handling System as follows:

"This is a standard military cargo system." The 463L cargo system includes airplane-specific equipment and airfield handling equipment (MHE) 463L cargo pallets are a major part of this system. Has a total of 88 "x 108" (2.2m x 2.7m), including fixed locking decks, from a flat aluminum deck to 84 "x104" (~ 2.1m x ~ 2.6m). "

The module 14 and the wheel and truck assemblies 19,21 underneath the module 14 are connected to the cart 10 as shown in Figure 2, It can be removed completely from the rest and can be used completely separated from anywhere else where 60Hz, 460 volts, portable source of three phase power is needed. The deployable jack stands 1600A and 1602A allow the front portion 1004 and the rear portion 1002 of the cart 10 to stand upright when the four- wheel cart 10 is separated into two two- It makes it possible.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the power converter module 20,1308 can slide out on tracks 504,512 and can be fixed in a particular location, whereby these modules 20,138 and their interior These modules are conveniently accessible by service personnel for the service of electrical and electronic components. These modules may also be removed for repair or removed for use as stand-alone power converters elsewhere, or these modules may be replaced by other power converter modules that generate different voltages and frequencies as needed to service other airplanes have.

B. Airplane ground support equipment Removable and removable module from cart

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, the platform of the cart 10 is shown as a simple flatbed, with wheels and trucks not shown. The frame cover plates for the individual modules are shown removed (or transparent) to show briefly what each module contains.

In Fig. 4, all of the aforementioned modules 14, 20, 22, 400 carried by the cart 10 are shown in a normal position within the cart 10. The rear end portion of the cart 10 is occupied by a rectangular module, that is, an air conditioning module 400 having airplane air conditioning parts. The module 400 extends over the entire width of the cart 10 and the module 400 occupies approximately one-third to one-half the length of the cart 10. Adjacent to the air conditioning module 400 is a removable rectangular module, i.e., a power conditioning module 20. Although only one power converter module 20 is shown in FIG. 4, there is a space in the cart 10 where there are two such power converter modules 20, 1308, one for the other, as shown in FIG. 5 It is located immediately behind. Immediately above the power converter module 20, the control system of the cart 10, i.e., the control system module 22, is mounted. The user interface display 24 surrounded by the push buttons 1302, 1304, 1316, and 1318 and the status light 1314 is attached to the front of the control system module 22 (see Figs. 20, 22, and 23) . These buttons allow the operator to control all of the modules connected to the control system module 22. Adjacent to power conversion module 20 is a large rectangular module, i.e., power generation module 14, that includes all of the power generating components that occupy front portion 1004 of cart 10. The power generation module 14 also occupies the entire width of the cart 10. In FIG. 4, two modules 20 and 22 are shown stacked vertically between the air conditioning module 400 and the power generation module 14.

Although FIG. 5 shows the view as in FIG. 4, the power conversion module 20 shown in FIG. 5 is shown to be slidable away from the cart 10 so that it can be easily serviced and removed. The second power conversion module 1308 can also be arranged to be slid away from the cart 10 to service or remove. These power conversion modules 20 and 1308 can be used to power an airplane in service hangers when removed from the cart 10 or to power a repair station that needs to be provided with the correct power to the airplane component Can be used alone.

Figure 5 also shows that the four-wheel cart 10 can be split into two two-wheel carts, the rear portion 1002 and the front portion 1004. The rear portion 1002 of the cart 10 includes an air conditioning module 400, a power conversion module 20, a control module 22 and a second power conversion module 1308 located immediately behind the module 20 But not shown in Figure 4). The front portion 1004 of the cart 10 carries the power generation module 14. When attached in this manner, the power generation module 14 in the front portion 1004 can be pulled away and used elsewhere as a power source. If a suitable source of 360 to 500 volts, 50 cycles, or 60 cycles of AC, three-phase power supplied by the local airport power grid is provided to the rear portion 1002, the rear portion 1002 can be towed to the airplane Can be used to supply air conditioning, liquid coolant, and power conversion services to airplanes.

20 shows that all the modules 14, 20, 22, 400, and 1308 present in the cart 10 are interconnected for power and also for electronic signal transmission between the modules. 20 shows a CAN network 1312 connecting all the modules to one another for signal transmission. The network 1312 is driven by a network bus driver 1310 mounted in the control module 22. [ The network 1312 allows monitoring signals and control signals to flow between the system control module 22 and the power generation module 14, the air conditioning module 400 and the two power conversion modules 20 and 1308 . As described below, when two power conversion modules 20, 1308 are slid to opposite sides of the cart 10, these modules are placed in the network 1312 and automatically on the power bus of the cart 10 . Although not shown, the network and power connections may also be automatically realized between the remaining modules 14, 22, 400 when these modules are mounted on the front portion 1004 and the rear portion 1002 of the cart 10 .

Figure 21 shows an array of various menus and submenus that can be selected by the user and displayed on the display screen 24. [ The operator can control the operation of all the modules in the cart 10 using these menus and submenus. The main menu shown in FIG. 22 allows the selection of airplanes of a particular type or grade and allows all the modules in the cart 10 to be automatically configured to service the specialized needs of a particular type or class of airplane. The airplane-specific menu (shown in FIG. 23) of the selected type or rating and its associated submenus allow the operator to view the status of the individual modules. The maintenance menu and associated submenu (FIG. 21), which can be reached from the main menu (FIG. 22) by a special pushbutton operation pattern known only to a qualified service technician, allows such an engineer to view current, Allows you to view system parameters and make adjustments to the operations performed by the various modules.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate that the cart 10 is designed to be separated into a rear portion 1002 and a front portion 1004. Fig. The rear portion 1002 of the cart 10 includes and supports a control system module 22 having an air conditioning module 400, power converter modules 20 and 1308 and a graphical user interface electroluminescent display 24. The front portion 1004 immediately includes and supports the power generation module 14. Figs. 1, 4, and 13 illustrate that two portions of the cart 10 are coupled to each other, whereby the cart 10 becomes one integral cart. Figures 2, 3, 5, 6-12 illustrate that the power converter module 20 slides away from the rest of the cart 10. The module 20 may also be completely disconnected from the cart 10 and may be operated independently where power conversion is required for an airplane or airplane component. Figures 2, 5, 14, and 15 show that two portions 1002, 1004 of the cart 10 are separated from each other so that the power generation module 14 can be pulled away, Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > 10 < / RTI > The air conditioning module 400, the power conversion module 20 and the control system module 22 can then be towed separately by an airplane and can be towed by electricity drawn from the local power grid (not from the power generation module 14) Can be used to provide power and air conditioning services to airplanes.

One embodiment of the present invention allows the rear portion 1002 and the front portion 1004 (see Figures 3, 5, 14, 15) of the cart 10 to be separated so as to be independent of each other , Fig. 15). 14) includes a deployable jack stand 1600 which is coupled to the rear portion 1002 with the two-wheel and axle truck assembly 18 of the rear portion 1002. The rear portion 1002 (FIG. 14) 1002) may be upright without additional support. A deployable jack stand 1600A extends downwardly from underneath the rear portion 1002 and is secured in place such that the stands support a portion of the weight of the rear portion 1002 and the rear portion 1002 Allowing it to remain upright without additional support.

The front portion 1004 of the cart 10 also has a deployable jack stand 1602 (Figure 15), which has independent adjustable wheels 19,21 and its trucks 1418, 1419 (FIGS. 15 and 19) so that the front portion 1004 can be upright without an external support.

When the cart 10 is assembled into a single cart 10, the rear portion 1002 and the front portion 1004 are connected to each other by bolts 1402 bolted to adjacent flat plates 1406 and 1408, And nuts 1404, respectively. A deployable jack stand is shown folded into its horizontal seating position at 1600B and 1602B. The front portion 1004 has a hinged pull bar 1414 (Figs. 13, 16, 19) attached to the pull bar connector 1416 by a suitable hinge. The tow bar connector 1416 is pivotally bolted horizontally to the two crossbars 1422 and 1424 (Fig. 19), which are connected to the two front wheels 19 and 21 of the cart 10, Coupled horizontally to the left and right front trucks 1418 and 1419 that carry the vehicle. Front trucks 1418 and 1419 are pivotally attached by vertical shafts 1426 and 1428 to the bed of cart 10 (removed in Fig. 19 for clarity). This arrangement forms an adjustable traction arrangement for the cart 10 having four wheels that are suitable for use when the two parts 1002 and 1004 are bolted together as shown in Figure 13, 10 serves as a single four-wheel adjustable cart having a front drawbar for adjusting the front wheels of the cart 10.

Wheel cart 10 includes a rear portion 1002 having two two-wheel carts, i.e., an air conditioning module 400, a control module 22, and a power conversion module 20, 1308; And a front portion 1004 having a power generation module 14. In order to separate these parts, a deployable jack stand 1600B, 1602B, shown in the horizontal seating position in Figures 13 and 18, is moved in the vertical direction as shown in Figures 1600A and 1602A in Figures 14, 15, To the active support position of the second motor. Next, the bolt 1402 and the nut 1404 are removed so that the front portion 1004 and the rear portion 1002 are separated. One of the two portions 1002 and 1004 is rotated or pulled away from the other portion as shown in Figures 14 and 15. [ Finally, two tow bars 1410 and 1412, pivotally mounted on a vertical shaft extending from the plates 1406 and 1408, extend from a seating position parallel to the plates 1406 and 1408 to plates 1406 and 1408 The tow bars 1410 and 1412 are moved away from the cart portions 1002 and 1004 as shown in Figs. 14 and 15 and are pulled away from the cart portions 1002 and 1004, To any possible means. As part of the design process of the cart 10, the wheels and trucks are positioned below the cart front and rear portions 1002,1004 so that while there is a force acting downward on the jack stands 1600A, 1602A, By making the pull bars 1410 and 1412 manually lifted by causing the force acting downward on the jack stand to remain relatively small, the trailer hitches of the towing means it can be placed on a hitch. Wheel cart 10 can thus be separated into two stable two-wheel carts formed by a rear portion 1002 and a front portion 1004 of the cart 10, It has a bar and a folding support jack stand.

16 shows an exploded perspective view of one of the jack stands 1600 and its mounting block components. Figure 17 shows an assembled jack stand 1604 and its assembled mounting block shown as being fixed in a load bearing position in the vertical direction at 1600A. FIG. 18 shows an assembled jack stand 1604 and its assembled mounting block 1626, which is shown fixedly in its horizontal seating position at 1600B.

Referring to these drawings, the mounting block has a top plate 1620, and the top surface of the top plate 1620 is positioned below the rear portion 1002 of the cart 10, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 Respectively. Shaped block 1622 having a hole penetrating for the shaft of the jack stand 1604 has an upper surface attached to the upper plate 1620 moved toward the center of the cart 10, ≪ / RTI > is suspended in block 1622 as shown. The side plate 1604 is attached to the right side of the block 1622 and is adjacent to the top plate 1620 as shown. A short beam 1618 having a square cross section and the same length as the top plate 1620 is attached to the elbow of the L shaped block 1622 so that the two elements 1618 and 1622 essentially form a square, Extends beyond the block 1622 and faces the outside of the cart 10 as shown.

The jack stand 1604 has an adjustable and extendable jack leg 1606 having a broad base foot 1608 that distributes the weight applied on the ground below the rear portion 1002 of the cart 10 Respectively. The set screw or bolt 1610 or the like fixes the jack leg 1606 which can be extended to a position where the rear portion of the cart 10 is held at a level when the jack stand 1500 is in use. The shaft of the jack stand is inserted into the center of the cart 10 through a hole in the L shaped block 1622. The spring 1616 rests on the jack leg 1606 extending beyond the block 1622. The spring 1616 is compressed and a cotter pin 1614 is inserted through the hole 1612 of the jack stand 1604 to secure the spring 1616 in place. This spring arrangement exerts a relatively strong force on the jack stand 1604 to always urge the jack stand 1604 toward the center of the cart 10.

17 and 18, the above-described mechanism is shown to secure the jack stand 1604 in the horizontal seating position to 1600B in Fig. 18 and to fix the jack stand 1604 in the load supporting position in the vertical direction to 1600A in Fig. In both cases, the spring 1616 is positioned between the jack stand 1604 by the elements 1618 and 1620 (FIG. 16) in FIG. 18 and by the grooves 1618 and 1624 formed by the elements 1618 and 1624 Thereby locking the jack stand in position either horizontally or vertically. To change the position of the jack stand 1604, the jack stand can be released into one of the grooves described above by pulling the jack stand away from the cart 10 and rotating it 90 degrees.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown a rail / tray mounting system 502 that is used to support power converter modules 20, 1308. The power converter module 20 is designed to be slidable away from the side of the cart 10 and the rail / tray mounting system 502 is designed to enable this. FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate one possible design of the rail / tray mounting system 502. FIG.

The module 20 has a rectangular frame 510 that rests on the rail / tray mounting system 502. The system 502 supports the weight of the module 20 while allowing the module 20 to freely slide into and out of the cart 10. The rail / tray module system 502 includes a module support tray 506 on which the frame 510 of the module 20 rests; Two pairs of intermeshed, overlapping rails 504-512 and 508-514. For example, a ball bearing assembly that allows these rails to be separated from the rails and to allow the sliding movement of the rails is described in G.S.F. Ltd. (part number TSQ43). A longer, fixed position, support pair of rails 508, 514 is attached to the cart 10 as shown and extends deep into the cart 10. The shorter pair of rails 504 and 512 are supported by the rails 508 and 514 in the fixed position and are arranged to slide into and out of the cart 10 by being placed on the fixed rails 508 and 514. This shorter pair of rails 504 and 512 is attached to the module support tray 506 to provide support for the tray 506 which in turn supports the rectangular frame 510 of the power converter module 20 do.

As best seen in Figures 10 and 12, the rail 504 freely slides within the support of the fixed rail 508 and the rail 510 freely slides within the support of the fixed rail 514.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, details of the frame 510 and the rail / tray mounting system 502 are shown. The tray 506 has a tapered upper edge that supports it when placing the frame 510 of the module 20 on the tray 506. A tray 506 is attached to the outer surface of the two support rails 504 (FIGS. 7 and 8) and 512 (FIG. 8). The rails 504, 512 then slide in corresponding rails 508, 514, each of which has a C-shaped cross-section. The rollers (not shown) attached to the rails 504 and 512 rotate along the upper and lower interior surfaces of the C-shaped cross-section of the rails 508 and 514, In and out of the body.

Figures 8 and 9 show bolts 514, 516, 522, 524, 532, 534 screwed into the frame 510 of the module 20 to firmly attach and secure the module 20 to the tray 506, Is provided. The vertical edge of the tray 506 is provided with a notch 528 (not shown) so that the bolts 514, 516, 522, 524, 532, 534 need not be completely removed from the module 20 when the module 20 is removed from the tray 506. [ , 530 are provided. The bolts 514, 516, 522, 524, 532, 534 slide down into the notches 528, 530 and then the bolts 514, 516, 522, 524 , 532, 534 may be tightly threaded using a driver tool having a hexagonal head. To facilitate lifting the module 20, a replacement bolt having U-shaped lifting hooks 518, 526 may be mounted as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Fig. These hooks 518 and 526 are moved away when the module 20 is pushed into the cart 10.

A rotation fixing handle 520 is attached to the front bottom of the tray 502. The handle 520 is rotated to apply a brake (not shown) to the inner surfaces of the stop rails 508 and 514 to fix the module 20 to the stop rails 508 and 514, And prevents the module 20 from sliding. This toolless securing mechanism is used to prevent the removable power conditioning module 20 from sliding into or out of the cart 10 at an unexpected time. The securing mechanism may be configured such that when the removable power converter module 20 is fully inserted into the cart 10 as in Figures 1 and 4 or partially or completely out of the cart 10 as in Figures 2 and 5 When it is fixed in position. This securing mechanism prevents the removable power converter module 20 from slipping back and forth within the cart 10 when the cart 10 is transported. This securing mechanism secures the power converter module 20 in place when it is serviced in a position that is provided to pull the power converter module out or completely out of the cart.

The present invention further comprises a blind mating connector unit 1100 for supplying power and signals to the power converter module 20 as shown in Figs. This blind mating connector unit 1100 allows the module 20 to be mounted in the cart 10 without the need to manually install additional wire connections to supply power and network signals to the power converter module 20. [ This also ensures that there is no power supplied to the power converter module 20 when the power converter module 20 is in its fully out-of-place position before being serviced by a maintenance man or an electronic technician. Further, this eliminates the need for wires when a second or alternative power module is added to the cart.

Referring to Fig. 11, the blind mating connector unit 1100 has a mounting plate 1106 mounted on the back side of the module 20 as shown in Fig. It is mounted by bolts and nuts using mounting brackets 1110 and 1121. [ Alignment pins 1102 and 1104 engage with the recess of a complementary blind mating connector unit (not shown) mounted within cart 10 so that whenever module 20 is fully pushed into cart 10, Engage. A similar board (not shown) mounted on a complementary connector unit (not shown) in the cart 10 is provided in the interior of the cart 10 And six opposing matching power and electronic signal connectors for supplying power and signals to the remaining modules. Similar connector arrangements may be used to supply power and signals to the remaining cart 10 modules.

Referring now to FIG. 20, a control system module 22 is shown. The control system module 22 includes a display 24 that allows the operator to communicate and control the various modules on the cart via the CAN bus 1312. Using the display 24 and the push buttons 1302, 1304, 1316, and 1318 and the signal illumination 1314 and the menus and submenus shown in Figs. 21 to 23, the operator can access the main menu shown in Fig. Power converter modules 20 and 1308 and power generation module 14 based on the particular type or rating of the airplane serviced by cart 10 as selected on the airplane specific submenu shown in FIG. Can be configured. In one embodiment of the invention, the interconnections are configured such that modules 14, 20, 22, 400, and 1308 are connected to a power supply bus (not shown) and to CAN bus 1312 each time a module is mounted in cart 10 This is achieved by a plug-in connector of the type described above. The connection of the power supply bus between the front portion 1002 and the rear portion 1004 to the CAN bus 1312 can be automatically established each time the two halves of the cart 10 are bolted together. Other alternative network systems, such as Ethernet or Token Ring, may be used instead of the CAN bus to achieve interconnection of these modules.

Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described above, many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. It is intended that the appended claims to form part of the disclosure herein include both such embodiments and modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

10: ground support equipment cart 14: power generation module
20: power conversion module 22: control module
400: air conditioning module 502: rail / tray mounting system
504, 512: track, rail 1002: rear portion of cart
1004: front portion of cart 1308: second power conversion module

Claims (10)

A ground support equipment cart having one or more removable equipment modules,
Ground support equipment with carts;
A rectangular module having an airplane air conditioning part mounted on the cart and extending over the width of the cart but less than half the length of the cart;
One or more rectangular equipment modules removably mounted on the cart, wherein the at least one removable module comprises a power conversion component;
A rectangular module having a power generating component mounted on the cart and occupying the remainder of the cart,
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Wherein at least one of the removable modules is slidable so as to be slidable away from the cart for servicing and maintenance. The ground support equipment cart of claim 1, wherein the ground support equipment cart occupies a footprint of one pallet location in an air cargo airplane.
delete The cart according to claim 1, further comprising a securing mechanism for securing at least one removable, slidably mounted module to a specific location. 2. The ground support equipment cart of claim 1, further comprising a rail tray system that receives the weight of at least one removable, slidably mounted module, wherein the rail tray system secures the removable modules to the cart. 6. The cart according to claim 5, further comprising a securing mechanism for securing at least one removable and slidably mounted module to a rail tray system in a specific location. The cart according to claim 1, wherein said removable modules are capable of accommodating input power cables of the same type that the ground support kit can accommodate when used separately from the cart. 2. The ground support equipment cart according to claim 1, wherein the removable modules are mounted adjacent to a module comprising an air conditioning component. The system of claim 1, further comprising a control system rectangular module coupled to at least two of the other modules by a power and signal networking connection and having a display and control for the at least two modules of the other modules Ground support equipment cart. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cart includes a first portion of the cart supporting one or more modules and a second portion of the cart supporting one or more modules, A removable ground support equipment cart.

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